ENGLISH
REFERENCE

essays

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈɛˌseɪz// es·says

n. short pieces of writing on a specific subject. Students usually write them to share their ideas or show what they have learned.

n. short pieces of writing on a particular subject, typically prose and analytic or interpretive in nature. Often used as a primary method of assessment in academic settings.


SIMPLE

I have to write three essays this week.

CONTEXTUAL

The professor asked the students to submit their essays on historical causes of the war by Friday afternoon.

COMPLEX

While some students prefer multiple-choice exams, others excel at writing long-form essays that allow them to synthesize complex theories and present a coherent personal argument.

Synonyms
Usage

Commonly takes the preposition 'on' or 'about' to indicate the subject matter.

Pitfall

I wrote an essay of the book.I wrote an essay on the book.When describing the topic of an essay, use the preposition 'on' rather than 'of'.

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